file :i* includes ! orig9al illu/rations4 ,see #dddff-;h4htm or #dddff-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gut5b]g4org_/ca*e_/epub_/ #dddff_/pg#dddff-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gut5b]g4org_/files_/#dddf f_/dddff-;h4zip7 ,images ( ! orig9al pages are available ?r\gh ,int]net ,ar*ive_/,am]ican ,libr>ies4 ,see https3_/_/ar*ive4org_/details_/fir/manc> ry+#jjzahm ,,! ,,fir/ ,,man-,,c>ry+ ,,a]oplane ,,capable ,,( ,,su/a9$ ,,free ,,flight3 ,,langley',s ,,success ,,z ,a ,,pione] ,,9 ,,aviation by ,a4 ,f4 ,,zahm1 ,ph4 ,d4 ,f ! ,smi?sonian ,report = #aiad1 pages #bag-bbb 7,,) #h ,,plates7 ,illu/ration 7,publication #bcbi7 ,wa%+ton ,gov]nm5t ,pr9t+ ,(fice #aiae ,,! ,,fir/ ,,man-,,c>ry+ ,,a]oplane ,,capable ,,( ,,su/a9$ ,,free ,,flight--,,langley',s ,,success ,,z ,a ,,pione] ,,9 ,,aviation4 ,by ,a4 ,f4 ,,zahm1 ,ph4 ,d4 ,) #h plates4 ,x is d\btful :e!r any p]son ( ! pres5t g5]ation w be able to appraise correctly ! contributions ?us f> made to ! developm5t ( ! practical fly+ ma*9e4 ,! a]oplane z x /&s to-day is ! creation n ( any "o man1 b r ( ?ree g5]ations ( m54 ,x 0 ! inv5tion ( ! n9ete5? c5tury2 x w be ! fruition1 if n ! p]fection1 ( ! tw5tie? c5tury4 ,dur+ ! long decades succe$+ ! "t ( ,sir ,george ,cayley1 build] ( a]ial glid]s & sagaci\s expon5t ( ! laws ( flight1 cont9u\s progress has be5 made 9 e dep>tm5t ( !oretical & practical aviation--progress 9 accumulat+ ! data ( a]ome*anics1 9 discov]+ ! pr9ciples ( ?is sci5ce1 9 improv+ ! in/rum5ts ( a]ote*nic rese>*1 9 devis+ ! organs & p]fect+ ! /ructural details ( ! pres5t-day dynamic fly+ ma*9e4 ,f "t to "t num]\s a]ial craftsm5 h fl\ri%$ 9 ! _w's eye1 only to pass pres5tly into comp>ative obscurity1 :ile o!rs too neglect$ or too poorly appreciat$ 9 _! own day subsequ5tly h ris5 to high e/imation & p]man5t honor 9 ! m9ds ( m54 ,some?+ ( ?is latt] =tune 0 fat$ to ! late ,secret>y ( ! ,smi?sonian ,in/itution4 ,= a decade & a half ,dr4 ,langley _h toil$ unremitt+ly to build up ! basic sci5ce ( me*anical flight1 & f9ally to apply x to practical use4 ,he _h made num]\s model a]oplanes propell$ by v>i\s ag5cies--by ,india rubb]1 by /eam1 by gasol9e--all op]ative & inh]5tly /able4 ,!n ) great confid5ce he _h con/ruct$ = ! ,w> ,dep>tm5t a man fli] :i* 0 ! duplicate1 on a f\rfold scale1 ( 8 successful gasol9e model4 ,b on t luckless day 9 ,decemb]1 #aijc1 :5 he expect$ to inaugurate ! era ( sub/antial aviation1 an unt[>d accid5t to 8 laun*+ ge> badly crippl$ 8 c>efully & adequately design$ ma*9e4 ,! a]oplane 0 repair$1 b n aga9 te/$ until ! spr+ ( #aiad--sev5 ye>s aft] ,langley's dea?4 ,su* an accid5t1 occurr+ n[1 w\ld be reg>d$ z a pass+ mi%ap2 b at t "t x seem$ to mo/ p to demon/rate ! futility ( all aviation exp]im5ts4 ,! press ov]:elm$ ! inv5tor ) ridicule2 ! great sci5ti/ himself ref]r$ to ! accid5t z hav+ fru/rat$ ! be/ "w ( 8 life4 ,al?\gh he felt confid5t ( ! f9al success ( 8 exp]im5ts1 fur!r f9ancial support 0 n grant$ & he 0 =c$ to susp5d op]ations4 ,sc>cely c\ld he anticipate t a decade lat]1 9 a f> away little hamlet1 workm5 :o _h nev] kn[n him w\ld ) ke5e/ en?usiasm rehabilitate t same t&em monoplane1 & laun* x aga9 & aga9 9 successful flight1 & t aft]w>ds 9 ! ,national ,capital x %\ld be assign$ ! place ( honor among ! pione] vehicles ( ! air4 ,:5 9 ,m>*1 #aiad1 ,mr4 ,gl5n ,h4 ,curtiss 0 invit$ to s5d a fly+ boat to ,wa%+ton to p>ticipate 9 celebrat+ ,langley ,day1#a he repli$1 ,i w\ld l to put ! ,langley a]oplane itself 9 ! air4 ,le>n+ ( ?is rem>k ,secret>y ,walcott1 ( ! ,smi?sonian ,in/itution1 soon au?oriz$ ,mr4 ,curtiss to recanvas ! orig9al ,langley a]oplane & laun* x ei!r "u its own propulsive p[] or ) a m rec5t eng9e & propell]4 ,e>ly 9 ,april1 !re=e1 ! ma*9e 0 tak5 f ! ,langley ,laboratory & %ipp$ 9 a box c> to ! ,curtiss ,aviation ,field1 beside ,lake ,keuka1 ,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y4 ,9 ! foll[+ mon? x 0 ready = its fir/ trial s9ce ! un=tunate accid5t ( #aijc4 #a ,may #f1 ! anniv]s>y ( ! fam\s flight ( ,langley's /eam model a]oplane 9 #ahif1 is kn[n 9 ,wa%+ton z ,langley ,day1 & has be5 celebrat$ ) a]ial maneuv]s ov] l& & wat]4 ,! ma9 objects ( ^! r5ew$ trials 71 fir/1 to %[ :e!r ! orig9al ,langley ma*9e 0 capable ( su/a9$ free flight ) a pilot1 &1 secondly1 to det]m9e m fully ! advantages ( ! t&em type ( a]oplane4 ,! "w seem$ a prop] "p ( ! g5]al program ( exp]im5ts plann$ = ! rec5tly reop5$ ,langley ,a]odynamical ,laboratory4 ,x 01 inde$1 = j su* exp]im5tation t ! a]oplane _h be5 giv5 to ! ,smi?sonian ,in/itution by ! ,w> ,dep>tm5t1 at ^: exp5se x _h be5 develop$ & br\ght to completion prior to #aijc4 ,aft] "s successful flights at ,hammondsport ! fam\s craft c\ld1 at ! discretion ( ! ,smi?sonian ,in/itution1 ei!r be pres]v$ = exhibition or us$ = fur!r sci5tific /udy4 ,to a*ieve ! two ma9 objects above m5tion$1 ! a]oplane w\ld fir/ be fl[n z ne>ly z possible 9 its orig9al condition1 !n ) su* modifications z might seem desirable = te*nical or o!r reasons4 ,v>i\s ways ( laun*+ 7 consid]$4 ,9 #aijc ! ,langley a]oplane 0 laun*$ f ! top ( a h\seboat4 ,a c> support+ x & drawn by l5g?y spiral spr+s ran swiftly along a track1 !n sudd5ly dropp$ away1 leav+ ! craft afloat 9 midair ) its propell]s :irr+ & its pilot supplem5t+1 ) manual control1 if ne$ be1 ! automatic /ability ( ! ma*9e4 ,?is me?od ( laun*+1 z %[n by subsequ5t exp]im5tali/s1 is a practical "o & 0 favorably ent]ta9$ by ,mr4 ,curtiss4 ,he also ?\ght ( />t+ f ! gr\nd ) :eels1 f ! ice ) skates1 f ! wat] ) floats4 ,hav+ at h& nei!r a fir/ rate smoo? field nor a %eet ( ice1 he *ose to />t f ! wat]4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #a4 ,,langley ,,a]oplane 7,,built #ahih-aijc7 ,,ready ,,= ,,laun*+ ,,at ,,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y41 ,,may #bh1 #aiad4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #b4 ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,j ,,ris+ ,,f ,,wat]1 ,,june #b1 #aiad1 ,,pilot$ ,,by ,,curtiss4 ,illu/ration3 ,,flight ,,( ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,) ,,its ,,own ,,p[] ,,plant ,,ov] ,,lake ,,keuka1 ,,june #b1 #aiad1 ,,pilot$ ,,by ,,curtiss4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #c4 ,,curtiss #hj-;,,horsep[] ,,motor ,,& ,,tractor ,,screw ,,m\nt$ ,,on ,,langley ,,a]oplane4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #d4 ,,elwood ,,doh]ty ,,cle>+ ,,! ,,wat] ,,septemb] #ag1 #aiad1 ,,9 ,,! ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,driv5 ,,by ,a ,,curtiss #hj-;,,horsep[] ,,motor ,,& ,,tractor ,,screw4 ,9 ! accompany+ illu/rations1 plates #a & #b %[ ! appe>ance ( ! ,langley fly+ ma*9e aft] ,mr4 ,curtiss _h provid$ x ) hydroa]oplane floats & _! connect+ truss "w4 ,! /eel ma9 frame1 ! w+s1 ! rudd]s1 ! eng9e & propell]s all 7 sub/antially z !y _h be5 9 #aijc4 ,! pilot _h ! same seat "u ! ma9 frame1 & ! same g5]al sy/em ( control z 9 #aijc4 ,he c\ld raise or l[] ! craft by mov+ ! big re> rudd] up & d[n2 he c\ld /e] "r & left by turn+ ! v]tical rudd]4 ,he _h no ail]ons nor w+-w>p+ me*anism1 b = lat]al balance dep5d$ ^u ! dih$ral angle ( ! w+s & ^u suitable movem5ts ( 8 weight or ( ! v]tical rudd]4 ,& "h x may be not$ t ,langley _h plac$ ! v]tical /e]+ rudd] "u & to ! re> ( ! c5t] ( gravity4 ,s plac$1 x s]v$ z a fairly good ail]on by ex]t+ a turn+ movem5t ab\t ! longitud9al axis ( ! ma*9e4 ,aft] ! adju/m5ts = actual flight _h be5 made 9 ! ,curtiss factory1 accord+ to ! m9ute descriptions conta9$ 9 ! ,langley ,memoir on ,me*anical ,flight1 ! a]oplane 0 tak5 to ! %ore ( ,lake ,keuka1 beside ! ,curtiss hang>s1 & assembl$ = laun*+4 ,on a cle> morn+ 7,may #bh71 & 9 a mild breeze1 ! craft 0 lift$ onto ! wat] by a doz5 m5 & set go+1 ) ,mr4 ,curtiss at ! /e]+ :eel1 ensconc$ 9 ! little boat-%ap$ c> "u ! =w>d "p ( ! frame4 ,_m eag] witnesses & cam]a m5 7 at h&1 on %ore & 9 boats4 ,! f\r-w+$ craft1 po9t$ some:at across ! w9d1 w5t skimm+ ov] ! wavelets1 !n automatically head$ into ! w9d1 rose 9 level poise1 so>$ gracefully = #aej feet1 & l&$ s(tly on ! wat] ne> ! %ore4 ,mr4 ,curtiss ass]t$ t he c\ld h fl[n f>!r1 b1 be+ unus$ to ! ma*9e1 imag9$ ! left w+s _h m resi/ance ?an ! "r4 ,! tru? is t ! a]oplane 0 p]fectly balanc$ 9 w+ resi/ance1 b turn$ on ! wat] l a wea!r vane ow+ to ! lat]al pressure on its big re> rudd]4 ,h5ce 9 future exp]im5ts ?is rudd] 0 made turnable ab\t a v]tical axis1 z well z ab\t ! horizontal axis us$ by ,langley4 ,h5ce=? ! little v]tical rudd] "u ! frame 0 kept fix$ & inactive4 ,aft] a few m flights ) ! ,langley a]oplane1 kept z ne>ly z possible 9 its orig9al condition1 its eng9e & tw9 propell]s 7 replac$ by a ,curtiss #hj-;horse motor & direct-connect$ tractor propell] m\nt$ on ! /eel frame1 well =w>d1 z %[n 9 ! photographs4 ,x 0 hop$ 9 ?is way to sp>e ! orig9al eng9e & propell] be>+s1 :i* 7 none too /rong = ! unusual burd5 add$ by ! floats4 ,9 #aijc ! total weight ( pilot & ma*9e _h be5 #hcj p\nds2 ) ! floats lately add$ x 0 #a1agj p\nds2 ) ! ,curtiss motor & all ready = flight x 0 #a1ebj p\nds4 ,b not)/&+ ^! surplus additions ( #dj p] c5t & #he p] c5t above ! orig9al weight ( ! craft1 ! delicate w+ sp>s & ribs 7 n brok51 nor 0 any "p ( ! ma*9e excessively ov]/ra9$4 ,ow+ to ! pressure ( o!r "w at ! factory1 ! a]oplane equipp$ ) ! ,curtiss motor 0 n ready = fur!r flights till ,septemb]4 ,9 ! abs5ce ( ,mr4 ,curtiss1 :o _h gone to ,cali=nia 9 ,augu/1 a pupil ( 8 aviation s*ool1 ,mr4 ,elwood ,doh]ty1 volunte]$ to act z pilot4 ,dur+ "s trials = adju/+ ! a]oplane controls & ! c5t] ( gravity1 ,mr4 ,doh]ty1 on ! aft]noon ( ,septemb] #ag1 plan$ easily ov] ! wat]1 rose on level w+1 & flew ab\t #dej feet1 at an elevation ( #b or #c y>ds1 z %[n by ! accompany+ photographs ( t date4 ,pres5tly two o!r l flights 7 made4 ,mr4 ,doh]ty f\nd t ) ! =ew+s at #aj incid5ce1 ! re> ones at #ab1 & ! pilot's seat on ! ma9 frame ab\t midway betwe5 ! w+s1 ! fli] respond$ nicely to ! movem5ts ( ! pilot :eel4 ,a slight turn ( ! :eel /e]$ ! craft easily to "r or left1 a slight pull or pu% rais$ or l[]$ x4 ,! big d\ble tail1 or rudd]1 :i* respond$ to ^! movem5ts1 0 ! only /e]+ or control surface us$4 ,! break+ ( ! #h-;foot tractor screw t]m9at$ ^! trials = ! day4 ,! waves indicate ! /r5g? ( ! w9d dur+ ! flights4 ,on ,septemb] #ai1 us+ a #i-;foot screw1 ,mr4 ,doh]ty began to make long] flights4 ,a pleasant (f-%ore breeze rippl$ ! wat]1 b )\t rais+ :itecaps4 ,a doz5 workm51 lift+ ! great t&em monoplane f ! %ore1 ) ! pilot 9 8 seat1 wad$ into ! lake & set x g5tly on ! wat]4 ,a cr[d ( witnesses ne> at h&1 & _m scatt]$ ab\t ! %ores1 & on ! l(ty v9e-clad hills1 /ood wat*+ expectantly4 ,:5 "s ( ! (ficial obs]v]s & photograph]s1 9 a motor boat1 7 well out 9 ! lake1 a man 9 high-top boots1 /&+ 9 ! wat]1 />t$ ! propell]1 & /epp$ quickly out ( ! way4 ,!n ) its great yell[ w+s beautifully ar*$ & di/5d$1 ! impos+ craft ran swiftly out f ! %ore1 gleam+ brilliantly 9 ! aft]noon sun4 ,at fir/ ! floats & l[] edges ( ! rudd]s broke ! wat] to a :ite surge1 !n z ! spe$ increas$ !y rose m & m f ! surface4 ,pres5tly ! re> floats & ! rudd]s cle>$ ! wat]1 ! front floats /ill skipp+ on _! heels1 :ite ) foam4 ,! :ole craft 0 n[ 9 so>+ poise4 ,x quickly approa*$ ! photograph]s1 be>+ on its back ! al]t pilot1 :o seem$ to be scrut9iz+ e "p ( x & well satisfi$ to let x race4 ,!n x rose maje/ically & sail$ on ev5 w+ #a1jjj feet2 sank s(tly1 skimm$ ! wat]1 & so>$ ano!r #a1jjj feet2 graz$ ! wat] aga91 rose & sail$ #c1jjj feet2 turn$ on ! wat] & came back 9 ! same mann]2 &1 z x pass$ ! photograph]s1 so>$ aga9 ne>ly half a mile4 ,! flights 7 repeat$ a few m9utes lat]1 !n1 ow+ to squally wea!r1 7 discont9u$ = #aa days4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #e4 ,,flight ,,( ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,above ,,lake ,,keuka ,,septemb] #ag1 #aiad1 ,,pilot$ ,,by ,e4 ,,doh]ty ,,& ,,driv5 ,,by ,a ,,curtiss ,,motor ,,& ,,tractor ,,screw4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #f4 ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,9 ,,flight ,,septemb] #ai1 #aiad2 ,,climb+4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #g4 ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,9 ,,flight ,,octob] #a1 #aiad2 ,,natural ,,poise4 ,illu/ration3 ,smi?sonian ,report1 #aiad4--,zahm4 ,,plate #h4 ,,langley ,,a]oplane ,,9 ,,flight ,,octob] #a1 #aiad4 ,,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y41 ,,9 ,,backgr\nd4 ,on ,octob] #a1 #aiad1 ! a]oplane 0 laun*$ at #aa a4 m4 9 an (f-%ore breeze /rong en\gh to raise :itecaps4 ,hov]+ )9 #cj feet ( ! wat]1 & )\t mat]ial loss ( spe$1 x made 9 quick succession flights ( ! foll[+ duration1 z obs]v$ by f\r ( u 9 a motor boat & tim$ by myself3 #bj seconds1 #bj seconds1 #fe seconds1 #bj seconds1 #dj seconds1 #de seconds4 ,z ! spe$ ?r\gh air av]ag$ ab\t #ej feet p] second1 ! ?r\gh air l5g?s ( ^! flights 71 respectively1 #a1jjj feet1 #a1jjj feet1 #c1bej feet1 #a1jjj feet1 #b1jjj feet1 #b1bej feet4 ,z ! a]oplane 0 n[ well out f %ore among ! heavy bill[s & :ite caps1 ,mr4 ,doh]ty l&$ x ^u ! wat] & turn$ x half ab\t = ! homew>d flight4 ,!reupon ! propell] tips /ruck ! waves & 7 brok5 (f1 "o ca/+ a spl9t] ?r\gh ! c5t] ( ! left w+4 ,! pilot /opp$ ! eng9e1 re/$ 9 8 seat1 & 0 t[$ home by our motor boat4 ,! flights 7 witness$ & h be5 atte/$ by _m compet5t obs]v]s4 ,z to ! p]=mance ( ! a]oplane dur+ ^! trials1 ! pilot1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,doh]ty1 reports1 & we obs]v$1 t ! inh]5t lat]al /ability 0 excell5t1 ! =e-&-aft control 0 satisfactory1 & ! movem5t ( ! craft bo? on ! wat] & 9 ! air 0 /eady & suitable = practical fly+ 9 su* wea!r4 ,app>5tly ! ma*9e c\ld h fl[n mu* high]1 & ?us avoid$ t\*+ ! wat] dur+ ! lulls 9 ! breeze2 b high] fly+ did n seem advisable ) ! frail truss+ ( w+s design$ to c>ry #hcj p\nds in/ead ( ! #a1ebj p\nds actual weight4 ,at ! pres5t writ+ ! ,langley a]oplane is 9 p]fect condition & ready = any fur!r te/s t may be deem$ useful4 ,b x has already fulfill$ ! purpose = :i* x 0 design$4 ,x has demon/rat$ t1 ) its orig9al /ructure & p[]1 x is capable ( fly+ ) a pilot & sev]al hundr$ p\nds ( useful load4 ,x is ! fir/ a]oplane 9 ! hi/ory ( ! _w ( :i* ?is c be tru?fully said4 ,if ! exp]im5ts be cont9u$ "u m pa9/ak+ te*nical direction1 long] flights c easily be accompli%$4 ,mr4 ,manly1 :o design$ ! ,langley eng9e & screws & :o direct$ ! con/ruction & te/s ( ! l>ge a]oplane up to ,decemb] #h1 #aijc1 reports t he obta9$ f ! propulsion plant a /atic ?ru/ ( #dej p\nds1 & t he once ran ! eng9e "u full load = #aj h\rs consecutively4 ,?is ?ru/ is ne>ly #ajj p\nds m ?an t commonly obta9$ at ,hammondsport ) ! same plant1 & #bj p\nds m ?an ! /atic ?ru/ obta9$ ) ! ,curtiss motor on ! day :5 x flew ! a]oplane ) #a1ebj p\nds aggregate weight4 ,h5ce1 by re/or+ ! eng9e & propell]s to _! orig9al normal work+ condition !y %\ld be able to drive ! a]oplane 9 successful flight ) an aggregate weight ( ne>ly #a1fjj p\nds1 ev5 :5 hamp]$ ) ! floats & _! su/a9+ truss "w4 ,) a ?ru/ ( #dej p\nds1 ! ,langley a]oplane1 )\t floats1 re/or$ to its orig9al condition & provid$ ) /rong] be>+s1 %\ld be able to c>ry a man & suffici5t supplies = a voyage la/+ practically ! :ole day4 ,dr4 ,langley's a]ote*nic "w may be briefly summ>iz$ z foll[s3 #a4 ,8 a]odynamic exp]im5ts1 "s publi%$ & "s z yet unpubli%$1 7 complete en\gh to =m a basis = practical pione] aviation4 #b4 ,he built & laun*$1 9 #ahif1 ! fir/ /eam model a]oplane capable ( prolong$ free flight1 & possess+ good inh]5t /ability4 #c4 ,he built ! fir/ int]nal-combu/ion motor suitable = a practical man-c>ry+ a]oplane4 #d4 ,he develop$ & successfully laun*$ ! fir/ gasol9e model a]oplane capable ( su/a9$ free flight4 #e4 ,he develop$ & built ! fir/ man-c>ry+ a]oplane capable ( su/a9$ free flight4 ,illu/ration 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcrib]'s note3 ,?is e-text foll[s ! text ( ! orig9al publication4 ,"s m9or punctuation inconsi/5cies h be5 regul>is$4 ,small-capitals 9 ! orig9al publication h be5 *ang$ to ,,capitals4